During first half of the 20th Century New Orleans had an extensive streetcar operation, by 1964 only two streetcar
lines remained in operation in New Orleans: Canal Street and St. Charles Avenue.
Early that year the decision was made to convert the Canal Street line to bus
operation and retain the St. Charles line as a tourist attraction. This
rendered 40 cars surplus, from that group twelve cars were donated by NOPSI to preservation groups and the rest were scrapped.

The compatibility of
track gauge and the age and excellent condition of the equipment had moved the
Pennsylvania Trolley Museum to express interest in obtaining one of these cars
eight years before they became available. Because of its long-standing
interest, PTM was given first choice of the cars being retired.

The Museum's interest in this car
came from the fact that in December 1947 it had been featured in a Life Magazine article when Tennessee
Williams' play "A Streetcar Named Desire" debuted on Broadway. Three years
later a magazine article identified 832 as the car regularly assigned to
operation on the Desire line. Although the Desire Street line quit
operation in 1948, the play and movie continue to bring fame to New Orleans
streetcars. Sister car 922 was featured in the 1951 movie version staring
Vivian Leigh and Marlon Brando; 922 was restored along with the other 34 'Thomas' cars and is still operated regularly on the St. Charles line in
New Orleans.

New Orleans 832 was delivered to the museum by railroad in June 1964 and was
almost immediately placed into operation because our museum track is the same gauge as
New Orleans. NOPSI 832 is very similar in design to PRT 5326, having somewhat taller
windows but with no protective guards.

Today, car 832 continues on in the same way as its sister cars that still
operate in New Orleans. Designation on the National Register of Historic
Places has made the New Orleans streetcars and the 160-year-old St. Charles line
an operating museum much like ours. Their fame makes our 832 an even more
valuable piece of history which we are very proud to be able to display for you.

Click on the thumbnails below for larger photos (will open in new window):